Automatic track-covering attachment for planters and the like



' 1,604.7214 G. F. RIEPE -AUTOMATIC TRACK COVERING ATTACHMENT- FORP'LANTERS AND'THE LIKE Filed'June. 21, i926 2 sneetsfsneet 1 'w A El# ,E T T o 1 I ZZ f2 @il O- 1li Iii 1P oct. 26,1926.- l 1,604,721

G. F. R'IEPE AUTOMATIC TRACK GOVERING ATTACHMENT FOR PLANTERS AND THE LIKE Fuaa'aune 21, 192e 2 sheets-sheet 2 ubcnkoz Patented Oct. 26, 192.6.

riunire sra-'rss rari; ksies.

GUY n. einen, or New nonnen; iowa.

AUTOMATIC TRAOKfCOVERINGf ATTACHMENT FOR PLANTERS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed .Tune 21, `1926. Serial No. 117,441.

This invention relates to an improvedau toinatic attachment for corn planters` and similar wheeled implements., which is adapted to cover the wheel ytracks with loose dirt, so that subsequent rains will not pack the soil,or wash it away.

The object of the invention is to provide an attachment having scraper blades, which` engage the ground adjacent the wheel tracks,l

and especially one which may be; easily secured to any type of planter frame, and which` will adapt itself automatically to the movement ot' theplanter when turning corners or backing.

The specific construction ot the invention and the advantages thereof will be more particularly explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the.

same in its preferred t'orm.

In Vthe drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention attached to the frame oi a corn planter. Figure y2 is a rear elevation ot the saine. Figure 3 is a side elevation oi the saine. Figure 4 is avertical longitudinal section through the attachment, showing also the rear end of the planter frame.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a det-ail sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4. i

The invention is illustrated in connection with the frame 10 of a corn planter, having an axle 11 supported by wheels 12. The track covering elements are supported by a rod or bar 13, disposed transversely in rear of the frame 10, and secured to rearwardly extending brackets 14 by means oi"V U-bolts 15, or equivalent fastening devices. lThe brackets 14 may be of any suitable shape or size to lit the frame of the planter on which they are used, and may. be secured to the latter by U-bolts 16, or other suitable means.

The covering elements are in the formelscrapers orblades 17, `arranged `in pairs behind the respective wheels 12. Each scraper' 17 vis securedto a rod or bar18 by suitable bolts 19, which permit them to be angu-` larly adjusted. Each rod or bar.18 is slidably mounted in a sleeve 20, whichis supported in an elongated Jframe 21.A This iframe is `formed atits upper and lower ends vwith loops 22 and 23respectively, within which the ends ot the sleeve are clamped by straps 24 secured ltothe frame adjacent the frame 21.

which straps 26 cooperate to forinbearings for supporting the trame and permitting ity to have a limited rotational movement about the bar 1 3. Collars 27 are secured to the bar 13, just inside the sides of each frame 21,

and prevent the latter from moving longi- `tudinally of the bar 13.

Each bar or rod 18 is'guided in the sleeve `2O, andheld` against rotational movement therein by a bolt or pin 28, which projects VAthrough a longitudinal slot 29 in the sleeve. A coiled spring 30 is connected at one `end to an eye 31, which is secured in the loop 23,

and is connected at the other end to. an eye loops. The` sides of each frame 21 are formed; with semicircular portions 25, with bolt 32, which is secured inthe upper end ot thebar 18, whereby to urge the latter downwardly, and to hold the scraper 17 in Contact with the ground. Several holes 33 may be provided in the upper end of the Vbar .18, so that the tension of the spring 30 may 4In the normal operation of the planter, the y scraper-s y17 are pulled along in the ground,

'and the bars 18 supporting the same are inclined downwardlyand rearwardly. lt' any 1 unusual obstructions are encountered, the scrapers may yield rearwardly by reason of the springs 34, and upwardly by reason of above the Scrapers `17, the springs 30 may yieldsufliciently to permit thescrapers to swing underneath' the bar 13 toward the front of the planter. 1n so doing, the ten- `the springs 30. In turning corners or in backing, as the barv 131s carried rearwardly sion of the springs 34 is released, yand as soon y as the planter `starts forwardly, the Scrapers 17 will dig into the ground, and will swing Yback again to operative` position.

4outer Aside of the trame 21 at each side of the planter vto prevent theplanter wire from catching on the traine at the ends. of the It is preferred to attach a guard 36 to the field. After the planter is well started across the field, the wire is drawn clear of the guards. Y

By the use of this invention, the tracks are covered with loose dirt, so that if a rain should come directly after planting, it will not cause the soil to pack, or wash the corn out of the ground. It also serves, in shallow planting, to cover any corn which might drop in low places, or in horses tracks, so that it would not otherwise be covered.

Thile I have shown only one type of corn planter frame to which the invention is attached, it is obvious that with slight modifications it may be attached to any type of corn planter, or other implement which may be used. Various other modifications may also be made in the structural details of various features without any `material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the claims.

IVhat is claimed is:

l. In an attachment for corn planters and the like, a supporting bar, means for attaching said bar to the rear end of the planter so as to extend transversely thereof, a plurality of frames mounted on .said bar, a sleeve carried by each frame and normally pointing toward the ground, a bar slidable but not rotatablel in said sleeve, a scraper mounted at the lower end of each slidable bar, and yieldable means for urging each slidable bar downwardly so that the scraper engages the ground.

2. In an attachment for corn planters and the like,` a supporting bar, means for attaching said bar to therear end of the planter so as to extend transversely thereof, a plurality of sleeves mounted toY swing about the bar as an axis, but normally inclined downwardly and rearwardly, bars slidable longitudinally of the respective sleeves, scrapers mounted at the Vlower ends of said slidable bars, yieldable means for urging said slidable bars downwardly so that thev Scrapers engage the ground, and yieldable means resisting the rearward swinging movement of the lower ends of the sleeves about the transverse bar as the planter moves forwardly.

S'. In an attachment for corn planters, a supportingbar, means for attaching said bar to the rear end of the planter so as to extend transversely thereof, a plurality of sleeves mounted to swing about the bar as an axis but normally inclined downwardly and rearwardly., bars slidable longitudinally of the respective sleeves, scrapers mounted at the lower ends of said slidable bars, means connecting the slidable bars with the respective sleeves to noigmally hold the Scrapers in contact with the ground but yieldable sufficiently to permit the Scrapers to swing beneath the transverse bar when the planter is backed, and yieldable means to prevent the their normal position when the planter travels forwardly.

et. In an attachment for corn planters, a bar normally disposed in a rearwardly and downwardly inclined position with a scraper v.secured to its lower end, means for supporting said bar on the planter so that it may move longitudinally or swing rearwardly about a horizontal axis, and resilient means resisting both the longitudinal upward movement and the swinging movement as the planter travels forwardly, thus holding the bar in normal position with the scraper in contact with the ground.

5. In an attachment for corn planters, a bar normally disposed in a rearwardly and downwardly inclined position with a scraper secured to its lower end, means for supportin g said bar on the planter so that it may move longitudinally or swing rearwardly about a horizontal axis, and resilient means resisting both the longitudinal upward movement and the swinging movement as the planter travels forwardly, thus holding the bar in normal position with the scraper in contact with the ground, the means for resisting the longitudinal upward movement of the bar being yieldable sudiciently to permit the bar to swing underneath its axis and to trail whenever the planter is backed.

6. In an attachment for corn planters, a Y

frame mounted to swing about an axis transverse to the planter, a sleeve secured in said frame perpendicular toits axis and normally inclined downwardly and rearwardly, a bar slidable longitudinally in said sleeve, a scraper secured to the lower end of the bar, yieldable means resisting the upward movement of the bar in the .sleeve so as to hold the scraper normally in contact with the ground, and yieldable means to resist the swinging movement of the frame as the planter travels forwardly.

7. In an attachment for corn planters, a frame mounted to swing about an axis transverse to the planter, a sleeve secured in said frame perpendicular to its axis and normallyY inclined downwardly and rearwardly, a bar slidable longitudinally in said sleeve, a scraper secured to the lower endv of the bar, yieldable means resisting the upward movement of the bar in the sleeve so as to hold ite the scraper normally in contact with the In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signavsur n. Rinne.

ture. sleeves from swinging rearwardly beyond v 

